Production of value-added chemicals using boron-doped diamond photocatalyst with strong reduction ability

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21H02025
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 36010:Inorganic compounds and inorganic materials chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nakata Kazuya 東京農工大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (70514115)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / ボロンドープダイヤモンド / 還元反応

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to elucidate the reduction mechanism of nitrogen compounds using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) photocatalyst. The goal is to establish a scientific theory that can be applied to perform difficult reduction reactions at room temperature and under normal pressure. Our findings demonstrate that nitrogen molecules can be reduced to produce ammonium ions in water at room temperature and under ambient pressure using a BDD photocatalyst. Furthermore, the production of ammonium ions was enhanced when the BDD photocatalyst was loaded with an co-catalyst. We also observed that the efficiency of nitrogen molecule reduction depends on the terminated molecules on the BDD photocatalyst's surface. These results provide valuable insights for the development of efficient reduction processes using BDD photocatalysts.

Free Research Field

光触媒

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、BDD光触媒を用いることで、常温・常圧下で窒素分子を還元してアンモニアを生成できることを明らかにした。本成果は、窒素分子の還元メカニズムに関する理解を深め、光触媒を用いた新たな反応の可能性を示すとともに、常温・常圧下でのアンモニア生成方法の確立により、エネルギーや環境負荷の低減が期待される。アンモニアは肥料や合成化学品の原料として広く使用されており、その生産方法の改善は農業や化学産業における持続可能性の向上に貢献する可能性がある。